Litany of Loss and Hope:Voice One (Present):
We are confident in the flesh,
in the flesh of skin and bone,
in the flesh we call our own,
in the Church we have made our own.

Voice Two (Past):
Christ Jesus,
is confidence in flesh,
is righteousness on the cross,
is the Church which lies ahead.

Congregation:
Let us together name all we have lost,
let us forget what lies behind,
let us strain forward to what lies ahead,
let us press on toward a heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

Meditation on the Sermon: We Suffer the Loss of All Things

As a response to the sermon, you are invited to come to the cross. On a piece of paper write down a word or phrase of one way the Church has failed to live up to your hopes or expectations. Place your paper on the cross and return prayerfully. If you are unable to come forward, the worship leaders will come to you. Some of these prayers will be read aloud. If you would prefer yours not be read, please write “unspoken” on your piece of paper.

(While people were writing their losses and hurts at the cross, “Losing My Religion” by REM, “Better Days” by Goo Goo Dolls, and “Already Home” by Marc Cohn played on the sound system. Then we read a selection of people’s comments and put them in the trash, calling out “rubbish”).Litany of the People

Past: Christ Jesus, We are confident in the fleshPresent: We rely on our fleshCongregation: Rubbish

Past: Circumcised on the eighth dayPresent: In worship every SundayCongregation: Rubbish

Past: A member of the people of Israel,Present: An American in ‘God’s Country’.Congregation: Rubbish

Past: Of the tribe of BenjaminPresent: A member of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.Congregation: Rubbish

Past: A Hebrew born of HebrewsPresent: A Christian born of ChristiansCongregation: Rubbish

Past: As to the law, a PhariseePresent: As to the commandments, an ElderCongregation: Rubbish

Past: As to zeal, a persecutor of the churchPresent: As to piety, a persecutor of other churchesCongregation: Rubbish

Past: As to righteousness under the law, blamelessPresent: A man of God, a woman of GodCongregation: Rubbish

Past: We have suffered the loss of all things,
Present: We regard everything as lossCongregation: We regard them as rubbish

Past: In order that we might gain Christ and be found in himPresent: In order that our righteousness may come through faith in ChristCongregation: In order we might be of the same mind.